Fertilizer-distributer.



- No. 718,504. 'PATENTED JAN.` 13, lo's.

E. P. NBEDHAM.

PERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER. APLIoATIoN FILED JULY 1'1, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

WHNESSES:

@MQW fw@ INVENTOR pam@ vz IMM llNrrFn STATES f ATFNT OFFICE..

i EDMUND F. NFFDHAM, oF PHFLPs, NEW YORK.

" FERTILIZER-DISTRlBUTER.

SEEC1FIOATIN forming part of Vlllletters Patent No. 718,504, dated January 13, 1903.

l Application fled July/17, 1902. Serial No. 115,917. (No modeld Be it lgnow'nthat I, EDMUND F. NEEDHAM, of Rhelps, in the county of Ontario, in the State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in*Fertilizer-Distributers, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, andk exact description.

My invention'relates to'improvements in fertilizer-distributers, having reference more particularly to the means for controlling the feed of the fertilizer from a suitable hopper.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide means for oscillating or partially rotatin g the feed-controlling device without removing the same from the hopper.

Another object is to provide the feed-controlling device with a lateral passage and a cut-olf plate movable acrossthe dischargeopening of the distributer, whereby the said discharge-opening may be wholly or partially closed by said plate to regulate the feed independently of the position of the lateral passage relatively to the discharge-opening;

and a further object is to provide the feed-Y controlling device witha removable closure for preventing the entrance of the fertilizer to the discharge-opening of the distributer from the lateral passage.

To this end the invention consists in the combination, construction, and arrangement of the parts of a fertilizer-distributer,as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively top and inverted plans of a portion of a fertilizer-distributer embodying the features of myinvention, portions of the feed-controlling device being-broken away in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken onv line 3 3, Fig. l. Figs. 4 and 5 are inverted views of the feed controlling cap, showing particularly the cut-offplate and lateral passage and also showing in Fig. 5 the removable closure for entirely preventing the entrance of fertilizer to the interior of the cap. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the detached closure.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

In this class of devices it has heretofore been customary to secure the feed-controlling cap to the supporting-frame kin such position that it became necessary in order to adjust the same to remove the fastening means which held it in position and then to reach into the hopper, elevate the cap, and adjust .tilizer through one or more of the feed devices.

My improved distributer is designed to overcome these difficulties in, first, providing means to oscillate the cap to adjust the lateral inlet-passage relatively to the main dischargeopening without removal or detachment of the cap; second, by providing the lower edge of thecap with an inwardly-projecting cutoff plate movable across the discharge-opening, so as to regulate the discharge of the material through the main discharge-opening irrespective of the inlet-passage, and, third, by providing a removable closure for the inlet-passage of the cap for entirely shutting off the entrance of the fertilizer into the interior of the cap. These several devices are clearly set forth in the drawings, in which I have shown a fertilizer-distrib u ter consisting of a supporting-framel, a revoluble hopper 2, an inverted-bell-shaped cap 3, means for oscillating or partially rotating the cap, a cut-od plate 5, movable across the dischargeopening of the supporting-frame, and a closure 6 for the inlet-passage of a cap.

The supporting-frame may be of any desired construction, but preferably consists of a circular horizontal disk 7, having a vertical discharge-opening 8 and suitable arms or brackets 9' and 10', by which the frame may yroe be secured to the truck. (Not illustrated.) I usually provide the disk 7 with a substantially central opening 9 and an upwardlyprojecting boss 10, surrounding the central opening, which boss receives and holds theI rotary hopper 2 from lateral displacement, the main discharge-opening in the disk7 being at one side of the central opening 9.

The hopper 2 preferably consists of an upright circular drum revolubly mounted upon the supporting-frame 1 and having a central opening ll, receiving the boss l0, said drum being also provided with an upwardly-projecting boss l2, surrounding the opening 11. This hopper is provided with a bottom 13, having openings 14 therethrough, and a circular toothed rack 15 on its bottom face, the openings 14 being successively registered with the discharge-opening 8 during the revolution of the hopper. Any desired means may be employed for revolving this hopper; but I preferably use a pinion 16, which is mounted upon a shaft ]7 and secured thereto, said shaft being usually employed to drive a gang of the distributers similar to that shown in the drawings and is generally connected in such man ner as to be rotated by the tractionwheels of the carriage upon which these distributers are mounted, the traction-wheels and other parts of the truck not being illusirated, as my device is applicable to various forms of trucks or carriages. The pinion 16 meshes with the circular rack 15 and serves to transmit rotary motion thereto, the shaft 17 being arranged in an aperture 18 in the bracket or arm 9', which is also provided with an aperture 19 for receiving the pinion 16, said shaft being usually angular in cross-section and inserted in a similar angular aperture in the pinion 16, the walls of the opening 19 serving to hold the pinion from endwise movement on the shaft.

The cap 3 usually consists of an invertedbell-shape body arranged within the hopper 2 and formed with adepending annular flange 2O and a laterally-extending lip 2l, said annular ange being extended inwardly beyond one end of the lip 2l and is cut away for forming an inlet-opening 22, one end 23 of the lip being in substantially the same plane as the lower edge of the flange 20, and the other end 24 of the lip inclines upwardly from the end 23 and is disposed in a plane slightly above the lower edge of the flange 20 for forming an inlet-passage 25, communicating with the opening 22 and interior of the inverted cap for permitting the entrance of the fertilizer during the rotation of the hopper 2, in which said fertilizer is carried.

The annular ange 2O is of sufficient diameter to entirely inclose the outer edges of the openings 8 and 14, and the lip 2l extends beyond the openings 14 into close proximity to the inner face of the upright walls of the hopper 2, the inlet-passage 25 being opposed to Ihe direction of feed of the fertilizer by the hopper, so that as the hopper is rotated the fertilizer is carried forwardly thereby and enters the inlet-passage 25, and is thus forced into the interior of the cap 3 and thence through the openings 22 and 14 and is finally discharged through the outlet-opening 8 onto ing S for varying the quantity of fertilizer discharged through said opening 8; but this is found to be not always reliable, and I have therefore provided the base of the cap 3 with an inwardly-projecting iiange 5, extending circum ferentially and wider at one end than at the other, said flange gradually Widening from the end 23 of the lip 2l circumferentially toward the inlet-passage 25 and is formed of sufficient width at its wider end to substantially cover the opening 8, or rather the opening 14, which may be alined with said .opening 8, it being understood upon reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings that this liange lies in close proximity to the upper face of the bottom 13 and is so arranged that when the cap is adjusted circumferentially the plate 5 cuts off more or less of the discharge-opening 8, as y may be desired, and thereby enables the operator to more positively control the feed of the required quantity of fertilizer through the discharge-opening 8, as will be apparent upon reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the cut-0E plate 5 being shown as covering the greater portion of the opening 8 in Figs. l, 2, and 3.

In order that the cap 3 may be held in its proper position central within the hopper 2, I provide the same with a depending spindle 26, which is journaled in the opening 9 of the frame 1 and is supported by said frame independently of the hopper by means of an annular shoulder 27, forming an enlargement of the upper portion of the spindle 26 and resting upon the upper end of the boss 10. The means for adjusting this cap 3 circumferentially preferably consists of a pinion 28, secured to the lower end of the spindle 26, beneath the disk 7, and a toothed segment 29, which is pivoted to a spindle 30, depending from the disk 7 at one side of the pinion 28, said segment being provided with a handpiece 3l, by which it is rocked on the spindle 30, and thereby rotates the pinion 28and cap 3, secured thereto. This is a particularly iinportant feature of my invention, for the reason that the inlet-passage 25 and the cut-olf plate 5 may be adjusted to any desired position relatively to the discharge-opening 8 without displacing the cap or any of the other parts of the device, the segment 29 being held in its adjusted position by a suitable spring-detenta 32, which engages serrations 33, formed on the lower face of said segment, the spring-detent 32 being'secured to the spindle 30 by a pin or equivalent fastening means 34.

Although I have described a specific construction of adjusting means for the cap 3, it is evident that other equivalent means may be employed Without departing from the spirit of my invention. Therefore I do not IIO limit myself to the precise construction shown and described.

It is sometimes necessary to entirely stop the feed of the fertilizer from one of the distributers when a gang of these distributers are used Without interfering with the operation of the other distributers, and I therefore provide the closure 6, which forms a continuation of the flange 20, to close the opening 22, and is usually detachably mounted on said iiange, being provided with a lengthwise socket 35, which fits over the end of the flange 20, adjacent to the opening 22, and its other end extends across the opening 22 and abuts against the opposite side of the flange 20, this closure being prevented from dropping down by the bottom wall of the hopper and is held from endwise movement at one end by the end wall 36 of the socket 35 and the other end abutting against the opposite side of the fiange 20.

rlhe operation of my invention will now be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, and it will be noted that some change may be made in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Afertilizer-distributercomprisingasupporting-frame and a revolu ble hopper having a discharge-opening, a cap in the hopper covering its opening and having a lateral passage communicating with said opening, means to rotate the hopper, and separate means to rotate the cap independently of the hopper to change the position of the lateral opening.

2. Afertilizer-distributercomprisingasupporting-frame having a discharge-opening, a rotary hopper having an open bottom movable across the discharge-opening, means to rotate the hopper, a cap in the hopper having a lateral passage leading from the interior of the hopper to its open bottom, and means to rotate the cap independently of the hopper to change the position of the lateral passage relative to the discharge-opening.

3. In a fertilizer-distributer the combination of a Xed frame having a discharge-opening, a rotary hopper having a bottom movable across the discharge-opening and provided with an opening registering with the former opening as the hopper is revolved, means to revolve the hopper, an invertedbell-shaped cap covering the opening in the hopper and having a lateral passage connecting the opening with the interior of the hopper, and means to rotate the cap independently of the hopper for the purpose set forth.

4. Afertilizer-distributer comprisingasupporting-frame having a discharge-opening, a rotary hopper mounted on the frame and having a bottom provided with an opening movable into and out of registration with the former opening, a tapering plate movable across the opening to vary the amount of discharge one part having a dischargeopening, a bellshaped cap inverted over the opening and provided with a lateral passage, and a closure for the passage detachably engaged With the cap.

' 7. In a fertilizer-distributer, a supportingframe and a rotary hopper mounted thereon one part having a discharge-opening, a bellshaped cap inverted over the opening and provided with a lateral passage, means to rock the cap independently of the hopper, and a closure for the passage removably engaged with the cap.

8. In a fertilizer-distributer,a supportingframe and a rotary hopper mounted thereon one part having a discharge-opening, a bellshaped cap inverted over the opening and provided with a lateral passage, a tapering plate secured to the lower edge of the cap at one side of the passage and means to rotate the cap to change the position of the passage and plate relative to the opening.

9. In a fertilizer-distributer, a supportingframe and a rotary hopper mounted thereon one part having a discharge-opening, a bellshaped cap inverted over the opening and provided with a lateral passage, a tapering plate secured to the lower edge of the cap at one side of the passage and means to rotate the cap to change the position of the passage and plate relative to the opening anda closure for the passage removablysecured to the cap.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of July, 1902.

EDMUND F. NEEDHAM.

Witnesses:

STUART DE C. PRICHARD, JOHN T. WATKINs. 

